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I am the second oldest person here. And I’m actually proud of that. Imagine, I’ve been with Cabo Expeditions for 16 years now!

I guess that makes me the happiest person here, too. If there’s one thing that makes Cabo Expeditions one of the best companies in Los Cabos, it’s the fact that they take their employees’ happiness seriously. I’ve known that the longest. In every day of my stay here.

Today, I set off to sea as boat captain of Cabo Expeditions’ whale watching tour. It’s what I’ve been doing since I left Acapulco to work here. And it never grows old. Not one tour is ever the same. Except that it always ends in happiness. Nothing compares to the genuine thrill of seeing mother whales and baby whales playing in the water. It’s always fulfilling to see how the guests enjoy watching them and telling me that they would love to come back.

You see, Cabo Expeditions does whale watching very differently. The tours are well-prepared, very organized. And conservation is indeed given top priority. Some whale watching tours in the bay use bigger boats and come closer than 260 feet (80 meters) to the whales. The roar of the big boats’ engines drives the whales away. That’s very disrespectful. But because our boats are smaller, we have better chances of seeing the whales up close–especially when they decide to come to us! It’s no wonder some of our most loyal guests have been coming back to Cabo Expeditions every year, for 10 years now.

Another thing I like about Cabo Expeditions is that it keeps me inspired to learn. You’re never too old to learn. Up to now, I still read books and research on the internet about new information on humpback whales. In fact, after today’s tour, I’ll share what I’ve learned with my fellow captains. We like that. We do a course at the start of each season every year to share information with each other. In 1999/2000, we even went to a lecture on whales conducted by the Sea World of San Diego.

New knowledge, new experiences, new friends–there’s always a new reason for me to stay here at Cabo Expeditions. To me, it’s not work. It’s home. And that’s why this old boat captain is here for life.

I’ve been told that I have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. I’m a Cabo Expeditions guide. And I swim with whale sharks.

Exciting? Yes. But dangerous? Not at all.

These whale sharks may look scary at 30-feet long, but they’re actually gentle giants. You see, every week I do online research on these beautiful creatures to prepare for a new tour. That’s how I learned that they’re filter feeders. So swimming near them poses no risk to divers or snorkelers.

I remember once taking a young group on our Swimming with Whale Sharks tour. I was up by 6:00 a.m., like I usually am on a whale shark day. But they were up even earlier. They were too excited! Good thing we immediately saw two whale sharks when we reached the observation area. One was 9-feet long, the other was a full 20-footer. I jumped in and showed them how to approach these docile creatures. That moment for them was unforgettable. They said it was their first time to swim with anything that big and that peaceful!

An older woman on the tour said swimming with the whale sharks was on her bucket list. She was almost teary-eyed when she thanked me for finally making a huge dream come true.

But sometimes, things don’t work out as planner. On one tour, I readied the equipment the day before as always, we set sail at our usual time, but after circling for an hour —we still hadn’t spotted anything. That’s how it is when tours happen in the wild. Our tours are right in the whale sharks’ natural habitat. But, even during the best season, it’s still the whale sharks’ decision whether they want to make an appearance or not.

Everyone on the boat was starting to get frustrated. I was disappointed myself. As a guide, I always want my guests to come home with an amazing whale shark story to tell their friends and families. But it looked like that wasn’t happening that day.

And that was when three gigantic whale sharks popped out of the water! The captain immediately stopped the boat and we got ready to swim with them. Later on, the guests said those 40 minutes in the water —alongside the biggest fish in the world— had been absolutely magical. It’s true. I do this all the time and it still amazes me!

I guess that’s the exciting part about my job. Sharing my whale shark experience with the guests and seeing their own experience move them. I do what I love doing, and I love sharing it with others. Up to now, I keep in touch with some of them through Facebook or by email. As soon as they ask when the next whale shark tour is going to be, I know I’ve done a good job.

Day 12, June 11th (Catalina Island, where we did some hiking, and Puerto Gato, where we spent the night)

I love the hiking. It’s a form of meditation for me. This is what happens: When you’re hiking, you’re not always watching the summit. When you are concentrating on the path, that’s when you’re truly happy. When your mind is where your steps are, when your mind is just on your breathing, your mission is to just keep going.

You have to be prepared and take care of yourself. I hike with my back pack, my cameras, and everything. Sometimes you have to go down to take a better road, but if you are taking one step at a time, not going off into the past or the future, you’ll be in the present—where there is more serenity.

If you’re hiking, you leave your cultured self. You just see the panorama and say “Wow! I’m so happy.” As with life, you don’t want to carry too much weight on your shoulders. It’s always good to travel light.

One of the amazing plants on uninhabited Catalina Island is the giant barrel cactus that lives just here, nowhere else. We found some between six feet and almost nine feet. Last time we found a huge cactus that was the height of two persons.

We were puzzled how plants could grow so large in this dry and withering climate. We discovered the answer: when you cross the island, in the middle there are clouds. For fifteen minutes we were cold. But that’s why the plants here are so healthy, even though it rarely rains – they get water from the mist of these clouds.

Day 13, June 12th (Las Animas and San Francisquito, where we spent the night)

We did some free diving here. Las Animas is one of the best places in the Sea of Cortez to go spear fishing. We didn’t have any spears – I don’t like the killing part, just the eating part! Our chef Tio Guero has a lot of knowledge of the area. He caught three fish – a snapper, a grouper and a triggerfish.

Tio Guero is always laughing and telling tall tales about his experiences, then says “I’ve got the pictures to prove it.” He’s a man of the sea; he likes what he does and knows what he’s doing. He’s very good at reading people and anticipating their needs. A great asset for Cabo Expeditions.

We gave thanks to God that we all arrived safely and had a great time. While we were making the carne asada to celebrate we saw four fin whales! These giants are second only to blue whales in size! Their long bodies are really streamlined. What a great way to end our journey.

We learned to look around at the smallest creatures, the geology, not just the big animals. The smallest ones are just as important as the bigger ones. The rugged geology of this region makes you wonder “what happened here?!”

Today Beto admitted (eleven days later) that he left his very expensive hiking sandals behind on Espiritu Santo. He mentioned it to a crew member from another company, who told him that he saw the sandals on the beach, but thought they belonged to one of the guests who were snorkeling close by at the time. These sandals come with a lifetime guarantee, but the guarantee doesn’t cover lost pairs!

Lessons learned for Cabo Expeditions:

1. We had to hone our skills – how to set up the tents, in what direction, how to anchor, how to set up the sleeping pads and equipment, etc. in order to be efficient.

2. We had fresh food and ice water on the first couple of days because we came from the mainland, but we realized in the coming days that those were a luxury that we wouldn’t have until we reached Loreto. (Fresh fish we could catch, but not ice water…)

3. When we travel, our true selves shine. I like to observe people because it tells me a lot (in the way the person sets up the tent, sleeping pad, etc.).

4. It’s a time to let go, knowing that the next day is going to be different. Don’t think about things that are going to happen when you come back.

5. We had to learn patience. We like things to be a certain way, but each person is different.

6. This is not just a trip, but an experience. It’s a trip within yourself; an opportunity to know yourself and get out of your comfort zone.

7. You realize how much water you use on little things such as washing the dishes.

8. You learn to conserve your energy by staying in the shade, because the sun saps your energy even when you’re not doing anything!

One night when we were on Palma Sola Island, we pretended we were in a drive-in, watching a movie projected on the huge rock wall that borders the beach.

It turns out that Oscar Ramirez made a composite photo of us that he presented to us at the end of the journey. In it we are sitting on the beach facing the wall, where he added a scene from the movie “Titanic.”

Unlike that ill-fated ship, the only mishaps on our happy voyage were the loss of two pairs of sandals!

We headed back to Cabo San Lucas with a contented spirit, eager to share our adventures with our friends.

Isla Carmen has been called the most scenic of the bay of Loreto’s islands and we could see why. The island shines in the National Park of the Bay of Loreto. The marine park was created in 1996. There are five islands in the park—Isla del Carmen, Isla Catalina, Isla Coronado, Isla Danzante and Isla Montserrat.

Before the park was created there were no restrictions on commercial fishing companies and shrimp trawlers – both are now illegal in the park, but sport fishing is still allowed.

One of the places I hadn’t been to before, Balandra Bay, is so beautiful. It’s very healthy in marine life. Not many boats stop here, so there’s not as much sun block in the water. The starfish don’t get so stressed from the chemicals in those lotions.

People don’t realize that most commercial sun block cream is toxic to sea life. It’s important to protect your skin with sun block, but make sure it’s the reef-safe eco-friendly kind.

On the land, it’s desert, but it’s full of life. It’s alive! How do plants and animals survive with no water? But they do!

Day 10, June 9th (Danzante Island)

What’s so great about our Zodiac boats is that they can get into places that big boats can’t go, like coves and caves. Some caves have roofs studded with fossils. It makes you wonder “what happened here?” The boats with their twin four-stroke 115-horsepower engines are quiet and don’t leave an oil sheen on the water.

Jose is a very good driver and has an eagle eye for wildlife. He’s quick to spot anything moving in the water. He always points out whales, a manta, or a fish jumping out of the water.

So many people think Baja is just dusty rough desert roads – they’re surprised to see hundreds of whales of all sizes and species patrol these plankton-rich waters in what some people call “Mexico’s Secret Ocean” – the Sea of Cortez.

Danzante Island’s Honeymoon Cove is one of the highlights of our trip. Danzante Island was the meeting place for the three indigenous cultures of Baja California Sur—the Cochimi, Pericú, and Guaycura tribes. They would travel long distances to come together here where they danced for days and days.

They would be praying to their gods to supply water for their communities. They used peyote, a cactus containing the hallucinogen mescaline to get into a trance. In their hallucination they would ask for the most precious thing—water.

Day 11, June 10th (Agua Verde)

Here is a community of 300 people, with two churches and now two little stores. When you spend a little time with the locals, the fishermen, you learn a lot from these people. There are things that they can teach you. They see things that you don’t see.

Once we met two brothers there. One came to Cabo San Lucas, but he couldn’t get used to the urban energy of Cabo! Now he lives in a little ranch with four adults and three children – that’s the whole town. He taught me how to hike, how first you got to be sure you’re not going to fall.

The next day’s hike would reveal the mystery of one of Baja California’s unique and rugged survivors.

I like the energy that this island has. It has so much intense, positive energy. There’s a labeled hiking trail that identifies the plants that you see along the way.

The Honeymoon Cove is the most beautiful cove in the Sea of Cortez. We snorkeled in a place outside the cove, which we decided to call “Stars Under the Sea” because the bottom was full of different kinds of sea stars. They looked so healthy, unlike in some places where people using a lot of sun block swim.

Another thing that I like about this island is when you’re hiking during sunset. Suddenly you see a flock of pelicans coming back from fishing to go to sleep. They sail in a long line low over the water.

Ana Maria always makes sure she has her own quiet time at sunset, when she meditates to find her inner peace.

Day 7, June 6th (Coronado Island)

Coronado Island is famous for its colorful landscapes, and we can see why! White sand beach contrasts with green shrubs, black volcanic rocks, and the blues and greens of the sea.

During the night we realized that we always had to be conscious that on every island there could be dangerous wildlife, such as a rattlesnake—which Tio Guero discovered on his way to the bathroom! It was a reminder that these animals live here, this is their home and we need to show respect.

Tio Guero always surprises us with delicious dishes. This evening he made a delicious carne asada. Miguel always makes the best salsas, and tonight was no exception. His specialties are guacamole, pico de gallo, red salsa, and a killer chile habanero. He’s a great cook and always on top of everything.

Just before Loreto, we pulled up at beautiful Puerto Escondido just south to fill up with gas, and take a fresh shower. Then you really realize how easy you have it at home! And how much water we routinely waste.

It’s interesting to see different cultures and how they adapt to the place. The new people who came to this land, sometimes we don’t want to leave our customs, and we want the place to adapt to our needs. We sell ourselves short. The place has more to offer us than what we think we need.

Day 7, June 7th (Loreto)

Everybody was tired when we arrived at Hotel Angra—a small and simple hotel in Loreto—in the morning. The first thing that people did was to take a fresh shower, turn on the air conditioning, and sleep. Back in the comforts of city life!

We had a delicious lunch of almeja chocolata—chocolate clams. The Sea of Cortez is well known for these large, tasty clams, their shells streaked with brown and the meat partly the color of caramel. Aaron was very skilled at opening and cleaning clams. He also makes a good arrachera, tender meat for tacos.

We restocked our supplies for the southbound exploration and waited for the next group to arrive.

Three new guests bring the manifest to eleven for the southbound journey. It’s no accident that people who love beauty, nature and photography predominate! This is the place to be with a camera.

Gabriel Fonseca Verdugo is a local videographer. Hector Salgado, a filmmaker, joined Oscar on the first islands trip back in May 2009 as well as on other trips outside of Cabo Expeditions.

Don Hirschaut is the owner and president of Earth, Sea, and Sky Vacations. He shares Oscar’s passion about nature. You can read his bio here: www.cabovillas.com/staffbios.asp

The crew remained the same except for Miguel. His back’s acting up so he’s traveling tomorrow for Cabo San Lucas from Loreto by road. We had dinner with both groups.

On the next leg of the journey we were to witness the scene where indigenous people of Baja California Sur, now mostly vanished, reached out for the gods with dance… and sacred drugs from the cactus.

“Cafe Grande please!” That’s Michael. He’s a late riser and a big person. By this time, Tio Guero knew he would have to prepare enough coffee and food for Michael. Michael always starts his morning begging for a grande coffee.

Luis, who was showing off his very nice-looking Puma sneakers for hiking, was put out when the soles fell off yesterday. “Now I realize why they were selling it two-for-one!” They look more like boxing shoes today.

After breakfast, we gathered our things so we could move to the next point, which was San Jose Island. We became more efficient in what we did through the course of the journey.

It’s not just about arriving to the island, but also getting there. You see a lot of marine life along the way. The vast sea seems as empty as the desert until suddenly a dark beast bursts through the surface. We were laughing with excitement at a big school of common dolphins herding us along on the way to El Pardito, where we made a quick stop.

The guests said El Pardito was an impressive little island. The family (and three previous generations) who lives there is very warm and hospitable; they always invite people in to their home. Some of us asked, “How can people live with so little and be so happy?”

In 1916, a fifteen-year-old seeking the life of Robinson Crusoe on his own desert island settled here. Don Juan Cuevas Ramirez died at age 75, but not before he had sired three generations closely linked to the sea.

El Pardito is about 150 km northwest of La Paz, between the islands of San Francisquito and San Jose. Its little chapel, school, solar-driven desalinization plant and radio help the isolated, tiny family community survive in this remote outpost on the Sea of Cortez.

These days overfishing by big international entities and illegal poachers threaten their modest livelihood. The need for national and international conservation pressure is great to preserve our Baja legacy.

The younger generation has turned to music to supplement the islet economy – three of them have formed a ranchera band. The songs of Los Grandes Del Pardito celebrate the life of the island family.

We left the little island fishing village and headed to the mangroves of San Jose Island. First it was ocean and desert, and then suddenly you come into an area that is so green that the contrast between the colors is hard to comprehend.

On the way to the beach Palma Sola Island we saw another school of common dolphins churning up the blue. Palma Sola is called “lonely palm tree” because there is one sole palm tree on the beach, making you feel like you came across an oasis in the middle of the desert. But we couldn’t feel alone in the wilderness with that friendly squad of dolphins racing alongside.

We camped on this island beach for the night. First we anchored and then immediately provided shade and fresh water to everyone. This time people were more energetic and knew what to do.

Day 4, June 3rd (Agua Verde Island)

Agua Verde is a beautiful place. The water is greener here because the type of sea bottom, the color of the rocks and sand there is lighter.

Oscar Ramirez, the other Oscar on the journey, expressed amazement at the beauty of his land. He feels prouder than ever to be a native of Baja California Sur and share his Baja heritage with us.

We saw Don Jose, a person whom we met on our first islands trip back in 2009, during the flu outbreak.

Ricky Ricky is Mr. Everything. He cooks and helps out with everything. With his positive attitude, nothing is too difficult for him. Cabo Expeditions is lucky to have him on our team!

As we prepared for sleep tonight, we drank in the beauty of the stars so close and bright. The next day we would discover stars of many colors at the place we were to name “Stars under the Sea.”

The first thing you notice out on the Sea is something you hear, or don’t hear. It’s a sound that can’t be recorded, bottled or sold. Silence. Quiet. Peace.

Maybe that’s where the name La Paz came from. The quiet is as close and immense a presence as the sky and the water. You can’t see it in a photo.

When we grew close to the long, rugged island of Espiritu Santo, we couldn’t stop remarking on the sugar-white sand and utterly clear turquoise water. It was the first time for everyone who was not part of the crew and their first impression was “WOW!” It was great to see the reaction of guests and how the team conducted themselves during the trip.

We pulled up on the sand, formed a human chain, and unloaded the equipment. The first order of business is always shade and water. I reiterated to the group how important under the sun it is to conserve our energy and keep ourselves hydrated throughout the trip. We set up the tents. Anchoring the Zodiacs out from shore, we used the kayaks to go back.

When it was time to go in the water, we supplied each one with his or her own gear. “You’re each responsible for your own equipment.”

We gazed in wonder at the fish, corals and scenery for hours. When we came out of the water, we listened to the sounds of nature. When you don’t have too much noise in your head you can turn around and find the source of the sound.

We realized an important thing: going to the bathroom is an intimate ritual; when you don’t have those comforts, it’s hard to concentrate. We set up a portable bathroom with shade and made sure that it was always clean for the next user.

We did a little bit of kayaking. Some people were shy at first, but as they saw others doing it, they joined in. People just needed a little push.

Sunset… It’s amazing how we’re used to checking the time every so often and keeping a running commentary of events. People would say, “Wow, it’s still early, but we already did a lot of things!” This trip was the time to put away our watches. We were not going anywhere.

Each sunset is different. There is a short window during the day when it’s not daytime, nor is it nighttime.

Fifteen minutes before and after the sunset is when the colors are the most beautiful – the colors of the rocks change and the water takes on a fiery glow.

At dinner we provided lamps for everyone. All of a sudden we could see how many stars there are. It’s so nice to watch the stars without the bright lights of the city; you could actually see shooting stars (and satellites?) pass by. The stars seem big and soft and almost within reach out here.

It was difficult for some people to sleep on the first night even though they were tired, because they were still excited.

We had to learn that it’s a time to let go, knowing that the next day is going to be different. We reminded ourselves not to think about things that are going to happen when we come back.

The next day would be a revelation for us all. On the faraway island of El Pardito in the Sea of Cortez, we found ourselves asking “how can people live with so little and be so happy?”

All my life I’ve wanted to explore the islands of the Sea of Cortez. The world knows little about these remote places, but UNESCO does—they’ve been designated a World Heritage Site.

I started organizing this journey four years ago. The first two years were tested out with the Cabo Expeditions team, and then I invited three friends along on the third trip. In May 2012 fourteen of us set off for a fourth island exploration of our Baja heritage. Six were guests and the rest of us crew.

We wanted to select a group with a wide range of personalities and backgrounds. That was on purpose—we wanted to find out the likes and needs of different kinds of people, with the hope that one day we can offer a similar adventure to all our guests.

So here’s the cast of characters:

My brother Miguel and I led the group. For good measure we included two doctors: Luis Landeros, a Mexican, and Richard Hull, an American. Richard also represented the older generation. His son Michael is the owner of Cabo Submarine.

We wanted the feminine viewpoint too, so we invited our friends Ana Maria Yarza and Adriana Siller, both from Cabo.

Oscar Ramirez is a photographer and owner of Ola Design, and one of our main sponsors in the annual Beach and Underwater Cleanup. Oscar won this trip as the winner of the photo contest I set up. Whoever’s photo posted on Facebook got the most “likes” won—that was the other Oscar.

We had an outstanding crew, too. My brother Miguel Noriega captains the Expedition VII and Jose Calvario, our most senior employee, captains the Expedition VIII. A third whale-watching captain, Richard Enrique Garcia—”Ricky Ricky“—joined up, filling in as a deckhand.

The boats are Zodiacs—known for their stability, durability and speed. I remember when I bought my first boat. I was scared to take on the financial responsibility. But my friend, who is now my accountant, said “What’s the worst that can happen? You’ll just have to tell your lender that you can’t make the payments and give it back.”

But it didn’t happen that way, the business took off and I was able to pay off the boat and buy thirteen more. When I made that last payment, my lender said “You have an open line of credit with me.”

So these boats mean more to me that just modes of transportation. They stand for the way the right people show up in our lives when we take those first steps toward a dream.

Captain Jose Calvario is one of the most popular captains on Cabo Expeditions’ whale watching tours. It must be those years of experience – or the twinkle in his eye!

The last three crew members included Aaron Rosas, our van driver, the brother of Rosario who works in the office. Jesus Ramon Hernandez , or “Chuy,” is our kayaking and snorkeling guide. We call him our “Calvin Klein,” because he supplied the eye candy for any photos I was taking.

Jose Alberto Haro Romero aka Beto is a guide to the wilds of both islands and cities. He knows his way around the remote and rocky Espiritu Santo Island as well as busy Cabo city tours.

Last but certainly not least is Manuel “Tio Guero” Salvador, Beto’s uncle. He’s the grand senior guide of the region. He’s been doing tours for years, has great leadership skills – but most of all, he’s a great cook! The key to a great trip.

So these were the people who formed a floating family as we headed north, destination Loreto.

We were to take the van from Cabo to La Paz, overnight there, then embark to Espiritu Santo. It took us four years to organize this trip and to determine the composition of the group. We would soon discover that the true personalities of people come out when they’re out of their comfort zones!

One thing I like about working at Cabo Expeditions—the never-ending thrill of discovery. Like this 2-week trip to the islands in the Sea of Cortez which Oscar organized for the group. It was an exploration mission. But to us, it was a field trip. And we were giddy like school kids.

Day 1, May 31st in La Paz
We arrived in Costa Baja Marina in La Paz. We used inflatable skiffs with me driving the Expedition VII and Jose at the helm of the Expedition VIII. Not long after we set sail, Jose already got his first dose of excitement. He saw a Mola-Mola that looked like it got lost and got stranded in the harbor close to the rocks. Jose and I managed to help the sunfish back into the sea. From being disoriented, the huge fish then happily swam away.

Day 2, June 1st at Espiritu Santo Island
It was midday when we got to Espiritu Santo. Here, we camped at Candelero Bay. We spent the rest of the afternoon snorkeling and hiking. I went diving in the pristine waters for which the island was known. We then spent the night in the camp we set up earlier. We were exhausted, but invigorated for the day ahead.

Day 3, June 2nd at San Jose Island
Normally, we stay on the northwest side of this island. But the winds had us camping on the northeast side instead. We stayed right Palma Sola beach or ‘lonely palm tree’ —so named because of the lone palm tree guarding the beach. Staying here feels like being in an oasis in the middle of the desert. Except for the fact that we snorkeled, hiked, and kayaked. This trip was really becoming less of a job each day.

Day 4, June 3rd at Agua Verde Island
This time, it was my turn to witness an extraordinary scene at sea. One mile before reaching Agua Verde Island, I saw 2 groups of orcas! One group was made up of 2 adults and a calf. The other was a pair of adults that swam around the first group. It looked as though the four adults were teaching the little calf to hunt! What an amazing sight. It made us all think of that adage, ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child…’

Later in the day, the fun continued. More snorkeling, hiking, kayaking and collecting almeja chocolata. Yup, chocolate clams!

Day 5, June 4th at Danzante Island
We were feeling adventurous today so we tried our hand at fishing. And learned the hard way that we weren’t good at it at all. After hours of repetitive casting and waiting, we finally caught a single small bonito. We gave it to the seagulls for breakfast. Then we went back to activities we were better at: snorkeling, hiking, kayaking…

Day 6, June 5th at Danzante Island
We were still at Danzante Island when our adventurous streak struck again. We hiked up the mountain! I’ve always loved hiking because it reminds me of life—sometimes you have to take two steps back and find another way to reach your destination. This hike, however, proved to be more challenging than we thought. There was no visible hospitable path to trek on. It was a climb worthy of seasoned hikers. And we were way too out-of-shape to be considered that! Haha! We failed to reach the summit but still, the experience was guaranteed unforgettable.

Come sunset, I saw two more orcas, which made me realize that orcas are indeed social animals. They rarely travel alone. Just like us.

Day 7, June 6th at Coronado Island
Just like the previous nights, everybody—except for a couple of us—slept on the beach. I waded back to the skiff and readied myself for bed. Once in the skiff, however, I simply ended up reading a book.

It was peaceful, until I heard splashes in the distance. It sounded like a humpback whale, breaching. But the water was already pitch black that I couldn’t see even a shadow of the mighty breacher. The splashes sounded again, piercing through the night. It went on for a good 45 minutes! The whale must have been at least 200 meters away but the sounds it made resonated. It could have just been the acoustics of the bay we were moored in. Still, the possibility of a whale right out there got me so keyed up that I had to rouse the others. I told them what I heard, I told them what I thought. I was completely animated! And… they went right back to sleep. Didn’t they believe me? Sigh. It was the highlight of the whole trip for me, nonetheless.

Day 8, June 7th in Loreto
It was our last night in the north. We were now due south for the next leg of the trip that would take us from Loreto to La Paz to Cabo San Lucas for another 7 days of exploration and escapades. Again, my adrenaline brimmed. Unfortunately though, my back wasn’t cooperating. The pain had become a constant discomfort that I was forced to simply come back home to Cabo San Lucas by road the next day.

Compared to the past 8 days, that trip, of course, had been uneventful. So I simply spent it dreaming about my mysterious night time whale. And smiled contentedly.

When you talk about family and bonding, you don’t usually think ‘Hey, let’s preserve the vast gifts of nature today!’, do you? Well, when you’re with Cabo Expeditions, you do.

For 3 years now, Cabo Expeditions’ conservation mission has covered beach and underwater cleanups. I’ve never missed a single one. Neither have my children. It’s funny that back in 2009, I had to drag Jessica and Andre to the first beach cleanup. They thought, ‘How dirty can a beach get?’ Boy, were they surprised! After seeing litter upon litter on what used to be a lovely beach, now they don’t need to be asked twice.

Last May marked our returned to Playa Empacadora—one of the most popular beaches in Los Cabos, Mexico—which unfortunately meant it was one of those that accumulate the most garbage, too. My children and I, along with a hundred more participants, spent 2 hours of 4 days picking up cigarette butts, beer cans, and tissue paper off the shore. We collected a grand total of 1.5 tons of trash—mostly beer cans. Can you believe that?!

My kids, who have long gotten into the spirit of conservation, are pretty proud of themselves knowing that the busiest beaches in the Sea of Cortez is now also one of the cleanest. With the whole clean up team, we vowed to cover a wider area soon so that all beaches are swept free of debris and brought back to their gloriously pristine state.

The highlight after all our hard work was the Cabo Submarine eco-adventure. All of the participants were treated to Cabo Submarine’s one-hour journey up close and personal with Cabo’s abundant marine life. Jessica and Andre were thrilled to get the special underwater treatment. They felt like tourists! Perfect way to cap a well-spent day and reward a job well done.

That’s how I help in our conservation mission, one beach at a time. And how I bond with my kids and teach them a valuable lesson in nature care, all at the same time.